Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 28

Thread: Ducted air - advice wanted.

  1. #1
    in awe of baz GazFish35's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    6,421

    Ducted air - advice wanted.

    Not some crazy Russian spambot.

    Just finished building, looking at quotes for ducted air installation.
    Anyone know anything?

    We've had quotes ranging from

    $8K for 2 zones, 12kW cooling/13kW heating to
    $12k for 4 zones, 14kW cooling/16kW heating

    We like the 4 zones as there's at least 1 room we'd like to separate in its own zone as we don't use it much.

    Is the extra $4K gonna be worth it over 15-20years?

  2. #2
    Haven't had the chance to use it yet as we are still waiting for the ****ing land to be registered and then to build, but we ended up going with the 4 zone ducted aircon (2 zones were free) as we could have the master as one zone, home theatre as one, living areasas one, and then the other 3 bedrooms on one.

    the 4 zones made more sense to us by not having to heat/cool half the house when we are only using 1/2 rooms

  3. #3
    in awe of baz GazFish35's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    6,421
    That's what we're thinking.

    Though the 2 zone spilt could simply be all bedrooms on one, all living on the other and leave the study/4th bed off the system.

    4 zones means we can do master, living, kids beds, study.

    We basically want to workout how long it will take for the extra 4K to start paying for itself by saving money not controlling the temp of rooms not being used.

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    434
    I've got 5 zones (3 beds individually, media, living area). The more zones the better I reckon. My parents place only had 3 zones, which made for a heap of wasted air on imho.

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Posts
    6,410
    Surely the supplier could give you comparative costs based on your assumptions.

  6. #6
    Senior Member Jeterpool's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Wait, I know this one
    Posts
    11,157
    We've got 4 zones too. One zone remains on always and the four zones gave us more flexibility.

    Over the years it'll be worth it mate
    Quote Originally Posted by Grimario View Post
    Great. He's gone from Liaoning Whowin to Newcastle Wholose.
    The Championship Chronicles - The Jetstream's review of the 2007/08 season. www.newcastlefootball.net/chronicles

  7. #7
    Senior Member baldrick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    1,027
    Another vote for 4 zones.

  8. #8
    in awe of baz GazFish35's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    6,421
    Quote Originally Posted by belchardo View Post
    Surely the supplier could give you comparative costs based on your assumptions.
    You'd think.
    But competitive quotes and information provision so we can make an informed decision doesn't seem high on the priority of some service providers in regional nsw.

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    17,380
    Quote Originally Posted by GazFish35 View Post
    That's what we're thinking.

    Though the 2 zone spilt could simply be all bedrooms on one, all living on the other and leave the study/4th bed off the system.

    4 zones means we can do master, living, kids beds, study.

    We basically want to workout how long it will take for the extra 4K to start paying for itself by saving money not controlling the temp of rooms not being used.
    mate once you get it in it has to work well or youll have wasted all ya $.

    Get the extra zones and if necessary take the next size up if you are not sure that the smaller one can cover the area. $ will mean jack in 3yrs.

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    At home
    Posts
    179
    Go the 4 zones if you can afford it, it'll cost you more if you decide to add it later.
    The AC system should be an inverter system, most domestic scale are these days, so it's energy efficient.
    What brand you been quoted ? Daikin and Mitsubishi are the best.
    I can vouch for Tozer Air Conditioning doing good job, as well as Air Extreme.
    Heard Coolrite are good.
    Make sure your outdoor unit is located somewhere that a hum does not disturb, ie not outside a bedroom window or in narrow space between colorbnd fence & house where sound can reverberate

  11. #11
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    6,090
    Quote Originally Posted by GazFish35 View Post
    You'd think.
    But competitive quotes and information provision so we can make an informed decision doesn't seem high on the priority of some service providers in regional nsw.
    That's because domestic air-con like domestic refrigeration pays peanuts compared to what can be made via commercial / industrial installations.

    The majority of the blokes doing domestic stuff are cowboys at best.

    Family were in the business for around 50 years until they retired.

  12. #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    At home
    Posts
    179
    Quote Originally Posted by The Dunster View Post
    That's because domestic air-con like domestic refrigeration pays peanuts compared to what can be made via commercial / industrial installations.

    The majority of the blokes doing domestic stuff are cowboys at best.

    Family were in the business for around 50 years until they retired.
    That's a bit rough. Some of the guys I deal with are quite good IMO. I work with both domestic and commercial

  13. #13
    in awe of baz GazFish35's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    6,421
    Quote Originally Posted by Footyhead View Post
    Go the 4 zones if you can afford it, it'll cost you more if you decide to add it later.
    The AC system should be an inverter system, most domestic scale are these days, so it's energy efficient.
    What brand you been quoted ? Daikin and Mitsubishi are the best.
    I can vouch for Tozer Air Conditioning doing good job, as well as Air Extreme.
    Heard Coolrite are good.
    Make sure your outdoor unit is located somewhere that a hum does not disturb, ie not outside a bedroom window or in narrow space between colorbnd fence & house where sound can reverberate
    Cheers.

    One quote we've had is for a daikin, the other an Aussie made "Actron" (not sure of spelling)

    We've set our build up so we have a "utilities" courtyard between the garage, kitchen and study, all bedrooms are on the otherwise of the house, and courtyard has good clearance 3-4metres from the fence..... And the neighbouring block is empty.

    We are leaning towards the 4 zones.

  14. #14
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    6,090
    Quote Originally Posted by Footyhead View Post
    That's a bit rough. Some of the guys I deal with are quite good IMO. I work with both domestic and commercial
    I agree, some of the guys are good. Unfortunately a lot of them out there are electricians who did journeyman's courses and are essentially clueless.

  15. #15
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    6,090
    Quote Originally Posted by GazFish35 View Post
    Cheers.

    One quote we've had is for a daikin, the other an Aussie made "Actron" (not sure of spelling)

    We've set our build up so we have a "utilities" courtyard between the garage, kitchen and study, all bedrooms are on the otherwise of the house, and courtyard has good clearance 3-4metres from the fence..... And the neighbouring block is empty.

    We are leaning towards the 4 zones.
    Daikin are the Rolls Royce of domestic brands. Whisper quiet and very reliable.

  16. #16
    in awe of baz GazFish35's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    6,421
    Quote Originally Posted by The Dunster View Post
    That's because domestic air-con like domestic refrigeration pays peanuts compared to what can be made via commercial / industrial installations.

    The majority of the blokes doing domestic stuff are cowboys at best.

    Family were in the business for around 50 years until they retired.
    We've been "home" out of the big smoke of Sydney for 18months, and have found almost every trade we've dealt with to be absolutely fantastic, trustworthy and reliable (one plumber wasn't, but he got fired) as word of mouth is so important in our smaller population.

    My only gripe is getting info from people prior to committing to a contract seems to take a long time..... And I put that down to a far far far slower pace of life and less competition for our business.

  17. #17
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    At home
    Posts
    179
    Quote Originally Posted by The Dunster View Post
    Daikin are the Rolls Royce of domestic brands. Whisper quiet and very reliable.
    That's cos it's Japanese. Anything Japanese is good stuff, just like our Subaru and Corolla

  18. #18
    Senior Member Jeterpool's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Wait, I know this one
    Posts
    11,157
    Quote Originally Posted by The Dunster View Post
    Daikin are the Rolls Royce of domestic brands. Whisper quiet and very reliable.
    Got a Daikin too and we're very happy with it.

    Quote Originally Posted by Footyhead View Post
    That's cos it's Japanese. Anything Japanese is good stuff, just like our Subaru and Corolla
    Jeez are my multi or something?! I've got a Subaru and Corolla too!
    Quote Originally Posted by Grimario View Post
    Great. He's gone from Liaoning Whowin to Newcastle Wholose.
    The Championship Chronicles - The Jetstream's review of the 2007/08 season. www.newcastlefootball.net/chronicles

  19. #19
    Senior Member Frodo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    The Shire
    Posts
    3,512
    Slight tangent here..

    I'm building this year and we've decided to save the $9k-10k they told us ducted would cost and i'm gonna fit a big 8-9kw split system in the main living space and a little system in the master bedroom after i've paid for the driveway/grass. Fan lights in the other rooms.

    Does anyone else think that this is a reasonable idea? Or to reword that, can anyone tell me if it's going to be a stupid idea? (based on fact/past experience)

    I did a bit of research to work out what to do but since this is my first house i'm open to any advice people have.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jeterpool View Post
    I do it just for you. My goal in life is to have a quote in someone's signature.

  20. #20
    Senior Member Jeterpool's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Wait, I know this one
    Posts
    11,157
    Quote Originally Posted by Frodo View Post
    Slight tangent here..

    I'm building this year and we've decided to save the $9k-10k they told us ducted would cost and i'm gonna fit a big 8-9kw split system in the main living space and a little system in the master bedroom after i've paid for the driveway/grass. Fan lights in the other rooms.

    Does anyone else think that this is a reasonable idea? Or to reword that, can anyone tell me if it's going to be a stupid idea? (based on fact/past experience)

    I did a bit of research to work out what to do but since this is my first house i'm open to any advice people have.
    Not silly mate. What other insulation are you putting in the house? Where you are living, how cold does it get? Will you have other means of heating such as a gas heater or wood fire?

    If you think the house can be "warmed" then great, and it depends on how long you're going to be there. We paid for it because it was already installed and we plan on being there for years and years. But being an old house we don't have wall insulation nor anything in the ceiling or underfloor at this stage.

    We mix between the air con and the gas heater depending on the room we are in.
    Quote Originally Posted by Grimario View Post
    Great. He's gone from Liaoning Whowin to Newcastle Wholose.
    The Championship Chronicles - The Jetstream's review of the 2007/08 season. www.newcastlefootball.net/chronicles

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •